Having some issues with brown and blue green algae I know my new light I installed is part of the problem. I did check my water parameters today ammonia,nitrites and pH are ok,but my nitrates are at 0 I always had low nitrates in this tank.I have read some where that low nitrates and not enough water circulation is a cause of blue green algae is that true.

freshfish wrote:Yep, sounds like you need to step up your maintenance a bit with the new light- including fert dosing if your nitrates are bottomed out.

Thanks Fresh what should I do? I use to do 30% water changes twice a week but went back to 50% once a week,because I thought I was stressing out the fish too much. Also what kind of fertilizer should I use? I add Aqueon co2 booster everyday and liquid fertilizer once a week,plus I did add root tabs about two months ago. I'm also thinking of adding a circulation pump or another filter to increase flow and staggering the light time three on two off and 3 on total of six hours.

I would avoid dosing ANYTHING until you have the BGA under control. Remember, they require food as well, so anything dosing will be absorbed and you'll actually be helping the problem along. As I stated earlier, daily water changes of 10%, cut back on feeding, and redirect flow into the areas that are having the issue.

I had BGA in 4 Corners, all I did was redirect flow so that the WHOLE tank receives something. Adjusting your photoperiod might help as well, but you need to at first get that flow going. What do you have for flow in the tank?

Crazygar wrote:I would avoid dosing ANYTHING until you have the BGA under control. Remember, they require food as well, so anything dosing will be absorbed and you'll actually be helping the problem along. As I stated earlier, daily water changes of 10%, cut back on feeding, and redirect flow into the areas that are having the issue.

I had BGA in 4 Corners, all I did was redirect flow so that the WHOLE tank receives something. Adjusting your photoperiod might help as well, but you need to at first get that flow going. What do you have for flow in the tank?

Gary

I use a Aqueon 20 QuietFlow HOB filter on the right side of the tank and a airstone on the left side. The left side is where I have all the java fern which isn't growing that well rhizome covered with algae I guess. I've been looking for circulation pumps,but this tank is only 15 gallons with green neon tetras what kind of pumps should I get and not have the fish tossed around the tank.

I'm going to order a Hydor Korlia 240 pump tonight from Amazon I got some ottos to take care of the brown algae which they did awesome fish. I'm also debating using erythromycin to take care of the BGA,buts that the last option don't want to kill the good bacteria.

As usual, find the root cause or it will return. I find the major factor is poor water flow enabling nutrient build up. Also, temperature. I've noticed recently that the higher temperature tanks that I keep, are more prone to it than the cooler ones.

Crazygar wrote:As usual, find the root cause or it will return. I find the major factor is poor water flow enabling nutrient build up. Also, temperature. I've noticed recently that the higher temperature tanks that I keep, are more prone to it than the cooler ones.

Gary

I installed a Hydor Korlia 240 pump in my 15 gallon today took me about an hour to find a good location with good flow around the tank. The green neon tetras don't seem to mind the extra current,but the ottos really like the extra current they are constantly playing in the flow of the pump.I also increased the water changes 20 to 25 percent three times a week which seem to help algae not growing so fast and that funky smell is gone thank god. Unfortunately summer is here no A/C the tanks stay around 82 with the fans on.

If you leave the top off the tank and place a fan blowing lightly across the surface, you'll keep things cool. But without this, water changes with a bit cooler water will help. @C. Andrew Nelson has a great video about this on YouTube;

Not a problem, you can also try moving the lights up a tad, depending on style of lights you are using, you will get a lot of heat energy into the tank as well. There are many things you can do to keep things cool.

Heres an update on the algae problem I still haven't found the right balance yet the BGA started to make a comeback and green hair algae showed up on java fern and I'm guessing BBA is showing up to sorry no pics. I just scrubbed the whole tank down driftwood,sides and vacumned all the brown algae off the substrate and did a 50 percent water change.I shortened the light 5 hours added some chemipure elite to the filter thinking of upgrading the filter and the water parameters are ok ammonia 0,nitrites 0,nitrates 0 and phosphates 0. I'm guessing too some of this algae problem might have caused my ottos deaths